Writing Successes: Finished reading and judging the Three Cheers and a Tiger contest entries. Had a lovely time.

Music Playing: KMHD. This is a college radio station funded by the public that plays jazz commercial free.

Exerpt from "...And You Think You've Got It Bad"

Wash the Hair As Often As Twice a Month - Keep in mind, your hair is your "crowning glory." Each night before retiring, brush the hair free from dust with one hundred strokes, it not only keeps the hair glossy and clean but your arms will gain strength. Some persons find it neccessary to wash the hair as often as twice a month, and others once a month is sufficient. Still other say it should never be washed at all. But once a month will rob it of that musty smell which comes of having long hair wound up closely for any length of time; also stops itching that is bothersome. Water taken from the rain barrel makes the hair soft as silk. At night the hair should be left free, night-caps are a relic of barbarism.

Wow! Twice a month! And here I was, merrily washing every day! What WAS I thinking? I will say that as a child I tended to brush 100 strokes before bed. I think it's something I saw Laura Ingalls do. However, she wore a nightcap. How barbaric! I don't think I'll even go into how hard it would be to FIND a rainbarrel, much less get the water from it.

So, the big question is: Why no updates since last week? That's easy: It was my birthday.

I had the tooth pulled on my birthday. I had a choice of a $1300 root canal and recapping, or a $85 pull. Since I went in there uninsured, which do you think I chose? Yap. Big hole. I think the dentist was delusional for asking me to do the canal in the first place. "Oh, yeah, and you'll have to pay half of that right now before you leave the office." Uh, sure. That's going to happen.

I've also been spending quality time with "Lulu In Hollywood", the book Sal gifted to me. (Did I say thanks?) I've finally made it through the really long introduction, which wasn't as bad as I had thought. The text is taken from a "New Yorker" article, so it's quality. He described several films he had seen with Louise Brooks (the author of this autobiography) in them. He was pretty detailed, it was like re-watching them. (I've seen only two. Both were awesome.) Then he goes on about his VISIT with her. Yes, he tracked her down to her apartment and spent an afternoon sifting through her collection of movie stills and photographs and memories. Talk about amazing! But now I'm in the meat of the book, written by Lulu herself. It's a little muddled, she wanders back and forth through time, and you have to stay sharp. But the writing is clear and understandable. She also name drops quite a lot, but incidentally. "Here is this fact, too, while I'm at it." It's grandish.

So that's where I've been. Hope you're not too disappointed.

One final note, about my dad. He graciously offered to purchase some software for me, and brought it over Monday. He calls to make sure I'm at home, I return the call. He has the day off and will drop by around 4pm. (It was just past noon.) I remark that I'll be here, it's not like I was going anywhere. I ask what he's going to go off and do. He's going skating! Well, that's interesting I think.

Later, I was waiting for the water to boil for my cup-of-noodles lunch and reading "Lulu" when it struck me. He had opportunity, time, and energy to spend time alone with me, and he went skating by himself. Not that I wasn't enjoying the moment, I really was. There was quiet in the house, rain outside pattering against the window and making time with the teapot as it hissed to a boil, and the light was gray, but perfect to read in. And I suddenly thought, "Too bad. There was a missed opportunity to spend with his kid." (If you visit the archives, you'll see that 2 weeks ago he blasted me for not spending time with my kids during spring break.)

Ah, irony. How I enjoy her visits. Tell you what, that's the last time he'll say anything like that to me.

Don't worry, I'll be back again tomorrow. I kind of missed writing this the past few days.